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CHRISTMAS STORIES 

































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THEr "6TORY LATDY ” SBRJES 

Oirisimas>3torie& 


BY 

GEORGElSE FAULKNER, 

"THE STORY LADY” 


ILLUSTRATED BY 
FREDERIC RICHARDSON 


DAUGHADAY ART) COMPANY 
CHICAGO 



Copyright, 1916, by 
Daughaday and Company 
All Rights Reserved 



SEP 14 1316 


©CU438370 


TO MY FATHER 


A GENEROUS SANTA CLAUS TO HIS LARGE 
FAMILY OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN 
WHO HAS HELPED EACH OF US THROUGH HIS 
OWN SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND SERVICE 
TO A FINER APPRECIATION OF THE TRUE 
MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. 










r 




* 
























» 



















FOREWORD 


are all children, young and old, at Christmas 
time. We love to talk and think about Santa 
Claus and the gifts which he will bring to us, and 
we like to plan how we may play Santa Claus and 
make some one else happy. Santa Claus embodies 
this spirit of self-sacrifice and service and so we will 
enjoy going in our dreams on “ A Visit to Santa 
Claus Land.” And what fun we will have when 
we join with the fairies and dear Mrs. Santa Claus 
and trim “A Christmas Tree for Santa Claus.” 
And then this story of “Squeaky and the Scare- 
box” — you know such a thing might really truly 
happen on your own tree, so look out when you 
open your “Jack-in-the-box.” “The Legend of 
Saint Nicholas” and his long silken purses will 
help you to understand our custom of hanging up 
our stockings to receive gifts. And this good 
Bishop doing his deeds of love in the night cer- 
tainly must have been like our Santa Claus. The 


9 


FOREWORD 


last story tells of the true Christmas spirit and 
“The Gift of Love” which God gave to the world 
when Christ was born. 

And so may this book of “Christmas Stories,” 
coming right into your home, bring to you a 
message of Christmas Cheer, with a Merry Christ- 
mas to all, 

From your Story Lady, 

Georgene Faulkner. 


io 


PAGE 



CONTENTS 



A Visit to Santa Claus Land 17 

Squeaky and the Scare Box 37 

A Christmas Tree for Santa Claus .... 55 

The Legend of Saint Nicholas 71 

The Gift of Love 83 




FACING PAGE 


Frontispiece— “On, Ho, Ho, Ho!” he 

LAUGHED MERRILY, “ HOW DID YOU TWO ^ 

Children come here?” 

Squeaky fell Heels over Head into a 
Funny Square Box 3 S S 

“It is your very own Christmas Tree, 
Father Santa Claus” . . . 53 

Saint Nicholas threw the Purse right 
into the Room 69 ^ 

The Boy lifted the Baby Lamb and held 

IT CLOSELY TO HIS BOSOM 8 1 


The illustrations are from 
original paintings by 
Frederic Richardson 





I 



A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 


NCE upon a time there were two 
children, a little boy named 
Willie and a little girl named 
Annie. Now, they could hardly 
wait for Santa Claus to visit them, so every 
day they would say to their mother, “Oh, 
Mother, how many days until Christmas? 
Must we wait a whole month, Mother? 
Twenty days more, ten days more, only 
five days more, — how slowly the days drag 
on, Mother!” 

Now, the busy mother felt the time slip by 
all too rapidly, but the children counted the 



i7 



CHRISTMAS STORIES 
days on the calendar and grew more and 
more impatient each day. At last they 
shouted in glee, “Santa Claus will visit us 
to-night, and to-morrow is Merry Christ- 
mas!” 

They borrowed the longest, strongest stock- 
ings which they could find, and when their 
mother came to tuck them snugly in bed 
and to kiss them good-night, Willie said, 
“Do you know, Mother, I’m going to prop 
my eyelids wide open and watch all night 
for Santa Claus.” 

“So am I,” said Annie, “and when he 
comes down the chimney, we will ask him 
where he gets all the toys.” 

“Oh, no, you must go right to sleep and 
he will come all the faster,” answered the 
mother, as she turned out the lights and left 
the nursery. 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 

After she had gone downstairs, Willie 
whispered to Annie, “Say, Annie, are you 
awake?” 

“Yes, I am, but I’m getting so sleepy I 
wish he would hurry and come right now. 
Let’s sing our Christmas carols for him.” 
And so the two children sang all the songs 
they knew. 

“My, it does seem so long to wait. I am 
most asleep,” said Willie, with a big yawn. 
“I tell you, we can take turns — you watch 
for him awhile, Annie, and then I shall.” 
After a time Annie called out, “Willie, I’m 
so sleepy; it’s your turn to watch.” But 
she received no answer. 

The next thing they knew, Annie and Willie 
were away up in the North Pole country, 
with snow and ice around them on all sides, 
and right in front of them stood a high ice- 


19 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
wall. “How I wish we could go through this 
wall — ” said Willie, and just as he said this 
the ice seemed to open and there was a great 
gateway leading into the strangest garden 
that you ever heard of in all your life. It was 
a garden all of toys, and Annie and Willie 
could hardly believe their eyes as they saw 
the wonders about them. Hanging right 
over the wall there appeared to be something 
growing like morning-glories. When they 
looked again the children saw that they were 
not morning-glories at all, but small, toy 
talking-machines, while on a trumpet-vine 
nearby they saw growing, like flowers, real 
toy trumpets. Willie picked a trumpet at 
once and played on it: “Toot-toot-toot-toot- 
too-oo-o.” 

“Oh, you must not touch the toys, Willie,” 
gasped poor Annie in fright. “We don’t 
know who owns this garden.” 


20 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
Just then the children saw the gardener 
of this wonderful land of toys. He was the 
merriest old man, dressed all in red, and his 
coat and hat were trimmed with ermine. 
His hair and beard were as white as the snow 
and his cheeks were like red, rosy apples, 
while his eyes twinkled like stars. The child- 
ren knew who this gardener was at once, you 
may be sure. Why, it was Santa Claus, 
of course! He was cutting down a crop of 
whistles with his sickle. He had a large, 
red sack at his side and smaller bags near- 
by, and he was so happy that he sang as he 
worked: 

“In my wonderful garden of toys 
Grows a crop for the good girls and boys. 
Dolls, cannon, and drums, 

Candy cake, sugar plums — 

All grow in my garden of toys.” 


21 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 


He was just ready to make up another 
verse when he spied the two children. “Oh, 
ho, ho, ho!” he laughed merrily, “how did 
you two children come here?” 

“Please, Mr. Santa Claus,” said ^Willie 
shyly, “we were waiting for you to visit us 
and the next thing we knew we were in this 
garden. We don’t know how we came here, 
but, now that we are here, may we not help 
you to pick some toys?” 

“Indeed, you may,” said Santa Claus. “I 
need two such helpers. I was just wondering 
how I could gather all these toys in time for 
to-morrow. Willie, will you please go over 
to the garden-bed in the corner and pull up 
some tops?” 

“Pull up some tops!” echoed Willie in 
amazement. But he took a red sack and 
went to the garden and began to pull up 


22 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
toy tops. There were large tops growing 
like turnips and little tops growing like beets 
and radishes. There were all kinds of tops; 
some would humm-humm-humm-m-m and 
make music while Willie pulled them up. 
Next, Willie climbed a tree and began to 
pick red marbles growing just like cherries; 
and he found purple and blue marbles grow- 
ing on a trellis, just like grapes — so he filled 
many small bags with marbles. He also 
climbed other trees where he thought he saw 
apples and oranges growing, but, when he 
came near them, he found different-colored 
balls — so he picked a bag of balls for Santa. 

‘Oh, Santa, may I help too?” asked Annie. 

“Indeed you may, my child,” he answered. 
“How should you like to pick dollies?” So 
all this time Annie was busy getting him 
dollies, and she was very happy. 


23 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 


“You dear, dear dollies!” Annie said, as 
she hugged each one in turn. “How happy 
all the little girls will be when they find these 
dollies Christmas morning! ” There were 
large dolls with the cutest bonnets on their 
heads, growing just like roses, and other 
dollies with the dearest pointed hats, growing 
up like tall holly-hocks. And then there 
were tiny dollies like pansies turning their 
pretty little faces up toward Annie. 

Presently Santa Claus began to water the 
grass and suddenly every blade of grass was 
a tiny tin soldier with his musket erectly 
held, while soldiers’ tents, like mushrooms, 
sprang up all around. War-ships, sail- 
boats, steam-boats, motor-boats, row-boats 
and canoes were all out on a lake nearby, 
but they could never sink, for the lake was a 
large looking-glass, and fishes, ducks and 
24 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
swans were swimming on looking-glass 
streams. The children rushed from one gar- 
den to another and saw so many things to 
pick that they were kept very busy helping 
Santa Claus. 

“Oh, see those pumpkins and squashes 
over there on those vines!” exclaimed Willie, 
but when he went to pick them he found 
drums, large and small, and foot-balls and 
basket-balls lying on the ground, like melons 
and pumpkins turned brown. 

“Whee-ee-ee-ee! Isn’t this jolly! See those 
funny brown leaves blowing in the wind,” 
called Annie. “They are all sizes and shapes.” 
When the children came near to pick them, 
they found no leaves at all, but brown Teddy- 
bears with their arms and feet out-stretched. 
The children hugged them in their arms and 
the Teddy-bears gave little squeaks of glee, 


25 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
for they were so glad to be gathered in with 
this harvest of toys. 

Suddenly, overhead, the children heard a 
whirr-whirr-whirring noise, and when they 
looked up it seemed as if great swarms of 
dragon-flies and butterflies were hovering 
over them. “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Santa 
Claus, as he watched the surprised children. 
“Those are new toys; they only lately have 
come to my land — but, here, take these 
butterfly nets and try to catch a few of them.” 
And when Annie and Willie brought these 
toys down a little nearer, they saw that they 
were not dragonflies or butterflies, but toy 
air-ships. 

Tiny, toy trains went gliding over steel 
rails, across switches, under tunnels, over 
bridges, and stopped at stations, quite like 
really, truly trains. 


26 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
“How should you like to see my farm?” 
asked Santa Claus. And the next thing 
Annie and Willie knew they were in a toyland 
farm-yard. Houses, fences and barns with 
stalls for horses and cows, and everything 
as complete as a real farm. Horses rocked 
to and fro or rolled about on wheels; toy 
lambs, so wooly and white, said, “Baa-baa- 
baa,” when their heads were turned to one 
side. 

There was also a menagerie of wild animals 
nearby. Elephants and tigers, lions and 
monkeys — more animals than you can tell 
about — were there, and they looked so real 
that at first Annie felt like running to hide 
behind Santa Claus. Then Santa Claus led 
them through toy villages and they really 
felt like giants when they looked down on 
all the dolls’ houses and different stores, toy 
27 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
theatres, toy post-offices, toy grocery stores, 
meat markets, and in all these stores were 
dolls for clerks and dolls for customers. 

Then Santa Claus took them far away 
from the villages, out through the orchard 
where the sugar-plum trees were growing, 
and after they had filled many bags with 
candy he led them out to the Christmas- 
tree forest. Here they found Christmas 
trees growing with gold and silver tinsel and 
hung with glass balls and chains, while 
tiny, colored lights were twinkling through 
the branches. Santa Claus had to gather 
these trees and pack them with great care. 

The next thing the children knew, Santa 
Claus had taken them right into his home. 
There they saw a dear old lady with snow- 
white hair who was sewing on some dolls’ 
clothes. (She was dressing some of the 
28 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
dollies that had sprung up without any 
clothes.) It was Mrs. Santa Claus, of 
course, and as she hugged and kissed the 
children she said to Santa Claus, “The dears, 
where did you find them?” 

“Out in the garden,” answered Santa 
Claus. “I don’t know how they came here, 
but they are excellent helpers. They have 
been helping me to gather my toys. I shall 
soon be ready now, after I do a little more 
work in my shop. You know, my dear, I 
must first test my winding toys, for that 
clock-work machinery does break so easily.” 

As he talked, Santa Claus took off his cap 
and coat, rolled up his sleeves and went 
right to work. He wound and tested each 
toy, and Willie helped him by handing him 
the keys for each one. There was a honk- 
honk-honk , a toot- toot- toot, a chug, chug. 


29 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
chug , and a clang , clang , clang , as automo- 
biles, boats, engines, fire-engines and all 
kinds of mechanical toys went running 
about the shop like mad. Next Santa was 
working with his saw and plane, his hammer 
and nails, and with a rap and a tap he 
finished the roof of a doll’s house. 

Mrs. Santa had dressed all the dolls and 
furnished the dolls’ houses. “What a cute 
little kitchen!” exclaimed Annie. “Oh, 
Willie, do you see this dining-room and the 
cunning parlor and this little bed-room? 
How I should love to play dolls in this 
house!” Then Annie turned to Mrs. Santa 
Claus and said, “May I not help you? I 
could thread your needles or help in some 
way.” 

“Why, so you may, my dear,” answered 
Mrs. Santa Claus. “My eyes are getting 


30 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 
old and if you will thread my needles it will 
be a great help.” So Annie threaded 
needles and helped Mrs. Santa Claus to dress 
the last doll and then to pack all the clothes 
in a new doll’s trunk. 

Santa Claus sat at his desk and finished 
writing a story and drawing the last pict- 
ures when suddenly the clock struck, Ding- 
dong-ding. Twelve times it struck and Mrs. 
Santa Claus said, “It is time you were up 
and away, sir.” She helped Santa Claus 
into his big cloak and he pulled on his high 
boots and his warm gloves and pulled his 
cap down over his ears. 

Just then the reindeer were heard prancing 
and pawing outside, impatient to be off and 
away. Santa Claus bundled his big pack 
of toys into his sleigh and put in all his 
Christmas trees. He kissed Mrs. Santa on 
3i 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
both cheeks, and with a big smack on the 
lips called out, “Good-by, Mother,” and, 
picking up Annie and Willie as if they were 
live dolls, tucked one under each arm and 
dashed out to the magic sleigh. They seemed 
fairly to fly through the air, and the moon 
and the stars seemed to dance in the sky as 
they went on faster and faster. Then they 
came down nearer and nearer to earth where 
the lights in the great city gleamed like fire- 
flies far below. 

The next thing Annie and Willie knew, 
they were on the roof of their own home. 
The next thing they knew, they were down, 
down the chimney and — there they were right 
in their own, little beds! The sun-light was 
streaming into their eyes and their mother 
was calling, “Merry Christmas, Merry 
Christmas, little sleepy heads!” 


32 


A VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS LAND 

“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” 
they both shouted, as they bounced out of 
bed and rushed for their stockings which 
were fairly bulging with toys, and Annie 
was soon hugging and kissing a new dolly 
while Willie was blowing a new trumpet. 
In the other room stood a large Christmas 
tree which had come from the Christmas- 
tree forest. 

“Oh, we know where these toys came 
from,” said Willie. “They came from the 
garden of toys, for we visited Santa Claus 
Land last night.” 

Now, to-night, when you go to bed, close 
your eyes tightly and go to sleep and I am 
sure you too can pay a visit to Santa Claus 
Land. 

Merry Christmas! 


33 





' 




































f 





















SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 


NCE upon a time there lived in 
a hole in the pantry wall a fam- 
ily of mice. There was a father 
mouse and a mother mouse and 
three little baby mice. They were called the 
“Velvet family,” because their fur looked like 
soft, gray velvet. 

One little mouse was named Sharpeyes 
(only they nicknamed him “Sharpy”) be- 
cause his eyes were so sharp and bright. 
He could see everything, even in the darkest 
closets and holes. One was named Sniffy, 
because he could sniff and smell anything 



CHRISTMAS STORIES 
good to eat, wherever it might be hidden. 
And the tiniest little mouse was named 
Squeaky, because he had such a squeaky, 
shrill little voice. He was constantly sing- 
ing, “Ee-ee-ee.” 

Now the mother-mouse was very wise, 
and she had taught her babies to scamper 
and hide whenever they saw the old cat 
tiptoeing about. The mother-mouse would 
say, “Beware of the cat!” and the little mice 
would run so quickly that although Mrs. 
Puss did not even mew or purr when she 
walked through the pantry, she never had 
been able to catch any one of the Velvet 
family. But many of their little cousins and 
other relatives had been caught by the old 
cat. So the little mice obeyed their mother 
and always hid when the cat was near. 

The mother-mouse also warned her babies 
38 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
to beware of the trap. She said, “I know, 
Sniffy, you will smell the cheese, and Sharpy 
will peer into the queer, little, round house 
and see the cheese hanging there, and 
Squeaky will call to you all to come in and 
get a bite, but if you do not heed my 
words you will be caught with cruel springs 
and wires and choked to death. So mind 
what I tell you and do not eat any cheese 
unless I am with you.” 

And the little mice answered, “Ee-ee-ee! 
Yes, Mother, yes. Ee-ee-ee!” in their 
little, shrill voices, and they promised to 
remember to do just what their mother 
told them. 

I could not begin to tell you about all 
the frolics that those mice had together. 
But I will tell you about their Christmas 
party. 


39 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 


“ ’Twas the night before Christmas, 

And all through the house 
Not a creature was stirring, 

Not even a mouse.” 

The last touches had been put upon the 
tall Christmas tree standing in the living 
room. The father and mother had gone 
upstairs to bed — 

“And the children were nestled all snug in their 
beds, 

While visions of sugar plums danced through 
their heads.” 

But, in the hole in the wall, the Velvet family 
were all wide awake. 

“Ee-ee-ee!” squeaked Squeaky, “why can’t 
we creep into the big room and see the tall 
Christmas tree? We have heard the child- 
ren talking about that tree for days, and we 
have never seen a Christmas tree, so please, 


40 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
Mother-Mouse, can’t we go out this time and 
see it?” 

“Yes,” said Sniffy, “do let us go, Mother- 
Mouse. Everything has been smelling so 
good lately, and the children and the cook 
made long strings of popcorn. I nibbled 
a little piece that they dropped here on the 
pantry floor, and it tasted so good.” 

“Yes,” said Sharpeyes, “and I peered out 
of our hole and saw some candy on a plate 
and some gingerbread cakes, all ready for 
the children. Oh, I do want a bite of those 
good things! Please let us have a Christmas 
party, Mother-Mouse!” 

“Now, don’t tease, children; I will ask 
your father, and if he says it is safe, why, 
then we shall go.” 

When the father-mouse heard them, he 
said, “Well, I will go out first, and look 


41 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
carefully about, and then I will let you know 
if you dare to venture out.” So father- 
mouse crept softly through the pantry. He 
tiptoed down the long hall and into the liv- 
ing-room, but the old cat was nowhere to 
be seen. 

For you must know, children, the house 
people were afraid that the cat might brush 
against the tree and break something, so poor 
Mrs. Puss had been banished to the coal-bin 
and was spending her Christmas Eve down 
in the cellar all alone; and she was howling 
and yowling because she was so angry. 

When the father-mouse could not find 
the cat, he came back to the pantry and called 
out the glad tidings, “The coast is clear, 
come out, children.” 

Then all the Velvet family came scramb- 
ling down from their hole in the wall, their 


42 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
whiskers fairly trembling in their eagerness. 
They crept through the pantry and tip- 
toed along the great hall and into the living- 
room where stood the tall Christmas tree; 
and when they saw the wonderful tree, they 
were so happy that they squeaked again and 
again in their joy. Then each mouse took 
hold of its tail as though it were a long 
train and, holding it up very carefully, 
danced and danced in the moonlight. They 
ran around and around the tree, examining 
everything. 

On the floor they found a wonderful doll’s 
house. “How lovely it would be to live 
here,” they squeaked. They ran up and down 
the stairs, overturned the chairs, pulled off 
the bedclothes and climbed into the beds. 
Then they went into the dining-room and 
sat down in the tiny chairs, but when they 


43 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
found the table was just set with play food, 
they did not like it, for of course it was not 
good to eat. 

Then Sniffy said, “I smell that good pop- 
corn again; let’s climb up into the Christmas 
tree and get some.” So they began to climb 
up into the tree. They nibbled the pop- 
corn chains; they nibbled the candy canes 
and the candy hanging in the stocking bags. 
They found the gingerbread cakes, and each 
one took a bite. 

Suddenly Sharpeyes said, “Come here, I 
see a mouse! I see a mouse! But he doesn’t 
belong to our furry family at all.” 

“I should say not,” sniffed Sniffy; “he 
smells so good!” 

“Why, he is good to eat!” squeaked 
Squeaky, and they all began to eat the 
chocolate mouse. 


44 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 

Then they found another candy mouse, 
a nice pink one, and they were so busy 
eating it that they forgot to watch and 
listen, until bang! suddenly the door was 
thrown open and the electric lights were 
turned on. With a squeak of warning, the 
Velvet family, scrambling and tumbling down 
through the branches of the tree, scampered 
pell-mell across the hall, through the pantry 
and back to their home and safety. 

There was the father-mouse, and the 
mother-mouse, and Sharpeyes, and Sniffy, 
but where was Squeaky? What had become 
of poor Squeaky? 

Now, as Squeaky tried to climb down the 
tree, he fell heels over head down, down, 
down until he was caught in a funny, square 
box. An ugly looking man with black hair 
and a black beard seemed to be hopping 


45 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
right out of the box, and, when Squeaky 
saw the lights turned on, he thought it 
best to hide under the skirts of this queer 
man. He nestled down and lay very still, 
hardly breathing. He had been taught 
never to move when danger was near so he 
did not wiggle even a whisker. He heard 
voices. The house people were talking. 

“Yes,” said the children’s father, “it 
would have been a shame to forget this 
train. I want it to come right out from 
under the tree.” And the father and mother 
began to arrange tiny tracks and switches. 
When all was in place, the mother looked 
once more at the wonderful tree. 

“Why, look at that Jack-in-the-box, he’s 
hanging way out of the box,” she said. 
“That will never do, it will spoil all the fun. 
Teddy would love to see it fly out at him 
46 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
and would call it the ‘Scare Box.’ I must 
fix it back in place.” Then the mother 
pushed the Jack, with his black beard and 
black hair, down, down into the box, and 
she shut and locked the lid. 

Poor Squeaky, hidden under the queer 
man’s skirts, felt the springs close tightly 
about him and squeaked one shrill “Ee” 
of fright. The father said: “I never heard 
such a perfect squeak; it is wonderful the 
toys they make for children. Now in my 
day — ” And his voice drifted off, as he 
turned out the lights and followed the mother 
upstairs to bed. 

Poor little Squeaky. On all sides there 
seemed to be a big spring coiled and coiled 
about him. “I am in a trap,” he moaned, 
“and they didn’t even give me a mite of 
cheese to eat. But, then, nothing seems to 
47 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
hurt me. It is not the way Mother-Mouse 
said: it does not pinch me or choke me. 
I wonder what kind of a trap it is — a queer 
man with springs for a body. Well, I am 
safe for a while, but I wonder if he will ever 
let me get out again. I want to go home.” 
And poor Squeaky cried himself to sleep. 

In the morning he heard shouts of “Merry 
Christmas! Merry Christmas!” and it 
seemed as though the big tree trembled in 
all its branches, as the toys were taken 
down, one by one. Then such a noise was 
heard — drums beating, horns tooting, child- 
ren shouting: 

“Just see our new doll’s house!” 

“Oh, see my new train, how fast it goes 
over these tracks!” 

“Just see this beautiful dolly! She can 
open and shut her eyes, and she says 
48 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
‘ma-ma, pa-pa’ whenever I pull the string.” 

“Ee-ee-ee!” groaned poor Squeaky, “I can 
squeak ‘ma-ma, pa-pa’ that way too, if 
they would only let me out so that I could 
go home to my ma-ma and pa-pa.” 

As if in answer to his wish, Squeaky sud- 
denly felt the box lifted down from the tree. 
“Come here, Teddy,” said the children’s 
mother, “here is a new scare box. We will 
have some fun. Now, carefully watch me 
and we will open the lid.” Teddy leaned 
against his mother’s knee, watching closely; 
“Are you ready? Well, let us count. One, 
two, three!” the mother opened the lid. Out 
jumped the man with the black beard and 
black hair and, with a loud squeak of joy, 
out jumped Squeaky. “Ee-ee-ee!” said 
Squeaky. “Ee!” said the Jack-in-the-box. 
“Whee-ee-ee!” yelled the small boy in delight. 


49 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 

“Oh, Ee-ee-ee,” shrieked the mother, as 
she threw the box on the floor and, holding 
her skirts up high, she jumped on her chair, 
screaming, “a mouse! a mouse! a mouse!” 

“Where? where?” they all shouted in a 
chorus. But little Squeaky whisked away 
so fast that they caught only a glimpse of 
his velvety fur and his long tail, as he dashed 
across the long hall back to the pantry, 
and home, and safety. 

Squeaky gave queer little squeaky sounds, 
half sobs and half laughs, as he told father 
and mother mouse the whole story of his 
night in the house with the queer man with 
springs for a body. And there was great 
rejoicing among the Velvet family over the 
return of Squeaky. 

In the living room they heard the child- 
ren’s father laughing as he helped their 


So 


SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX 
mother climb down from the chair. “Well,” 
said he, “how did you enjoy Teddy’s scare 
box?” 




















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A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA 
CLAUS 


NCE upon a time the fairies 
planned a Christmas surprise for 
Santa Claus. 

“I wonder what we can do to 
make him happy?” asked the Fairy Queen; 
“he always makes other people happy.” 

“I know,” answered the Fairy King, “let 
us give him a Christmas party and after he 
returns from his long journey of love all 
around the world, let us lead him to the 
Christmas-tree forest and there we will have 
a tree all trimmed and ready for him.” 

“Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted all the little 
55 



CHRISTMAS STORIES 
brownies, elves, fairies and nymphs. 
“Hurrah! hurrah! what fun we shall have; 
a Christmas tree for dear old Father Santa 
Claus. We will ask Mother Santa Claus 
to help us plan it and she will tell us just 
what he needs and would most enjoy,” said 
the Fairy King. 

Now, you must know, children, that all 
the brownies, elves, fairies and nymphs 
always call Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa 
Claus, “Father” and “Mother” because they 
seem like a Father and Mother to all these 
little people, and they always help Santa 
Claus and his good wife make the Christmas 
gifts; for how would Santa Claus and Mrs. 
Santa Claus ever get all their work done in 
time for Christmas without all these good, 
little fairies to help them? 

So, of course, when they planned for a 
56 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
Christmas tree, they asked Mother Santa 
Claus to help them. “Have everything 
ready,” said Mother Santa Claus, “and, 
after Father has gone on his long journey, 
we will go out to the forest and trim the 
tree, and have everything in place before 
he comes home again. We will keep it as 
a great secret, for if he hears of it all our fun 
and surprise will be gone.” 

“We will never let him hear a whisper 
from us,” said the fairies. “We will work 
and will wait patiently until Christmas Eve.” 

Then the fairies, true to their promise, 
worked and worked helping Father and 
Mother Santa Claus to make the Christmas 
gifts, and they were all very busy. Some of 
these dear little fairies helped Mother Santa 
Claus to make doll clothes and to furnish 
dolls’ houses, hemming tiny table-cloths, 
57 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
fringing little napkins, making sheets and 
blankets and pillows and pillow-cases for the 
dollies’ beds. They were such happy little 
fairies that they sang as they worked: 

“The Christmas fairies find pleasure, 

As they work for the good girls and boys, 

For they know that the children will treasure 
And value these new Christmas toys." 

The little carpenter elves liked to help 
Father Santa Claus in his big work-shop, 
as he sawed the wood brought in by the forest 
elves and brownies, and, with plane and 
hammer, he made houses for the dolls, chairs 
and tables and sleds and all kinds of wooden 
toys. The mountain dwarfs and goblins 
from the mines brought in the iron ore 
which they heated red-hot, and they helped 
Santa Claus make the engines, trains of 
cars, the automobiles, fire-engines and boats 
58 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
and all the toys of iron and steel. They also 
brought him gold and silver and sparkling 
stones, while the water nymphs gave him 
pearls and coral and softly tinted shells 
which Santa Claus and his skillful helpers 
soon made into beautiful jewelry to give to 
some of the big, grown-up children on 
Christmas. 

“Everybody is a child at this time,” said 
Sarita Claus to his good wife, “and even if 
people do feel too large to play with dolls 
and drums, still they must have their trin- 
kets and things to make them happy.” 

“Yes,” answered Mrs. Santa Claus, “but 
we must have useful presents, too, Father.” 
So she would knit stockings and mitts and 
make warm caps, hoods and mufflers, new 
coats and dresses. Then, when the soft skins 
of animals were brought in, she would make 
59 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
nice fur collars and muffs for the big 
Mammas, and little fur sets for the little 
girlies, and then she would take teeny-weeny 
scraps of fur that were left over, and make 
fur sets for the dollies. Oh, Mrs. Santa 
Claus was a very sensible old lady, you may 
be sure. 

Well, I could not begin to take time to 
tell you about all the marvelous things that 
were made in that wonderful work-shop, nor 
how busily Santa Claus worked at his big 
desk, writing stories while the artist fairies 
drew the pictures for him, for I do want to 
tell you how all these fairy helpers gave 
Santa Claus his Christmas tree. 

When, at last, Christmas Eve came, 
Mother Santa Claus helped Santa Claus 
bundle up in his big, red cloak and pack 
his toys in a magic sleigh. Then she gave 
60 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
him a big kiss, and he gave her a big hug 
and a kiss and said: “Good-bye, Mother, 
Merry Christmas! I will be back when all 
is done. Good-bye!” 

“ ‘When all is done’ ” said Mrs. Santa 
Claus, chuckling to herself, “we shall have 
it all done when he returns. Come, fairies!” 
and Mrs. Santa Claus, with all the brownies, 
elves and fairies, went out to the Christmas- 
tree forest. 

The frost fairies selected a tall fir tree 
which they hung all over with shining, silvery 
threads of frost, while icicles, hanging from 
each branch, glimmered and glistened in the 
moonlight. “What a beautiful tree, frost 
fairies!” they all cried in a chorus, “But 
nothing is too good for our dear Father 
Santa Claus!” Then each put his present 
on the tree for Santa Claus. 

6 1 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
Mrs. Santa Claus had made him a new, 
beautiful red coat, with a cap to match, 
and she had trimmed it with soft, white 
ermine. Some of the tailor fairies had helped 
her, and they also had made him a new 
pair of trousers. The little cobbler elves 
had made him a new pair of tall boots and 
the glove-makers brought a pair of warm 
gloves. “We want his fingers to be warm,” 
they said. Some of the fairies brought some 
animal skins and made them into a nice 
fur robe. The water nymphs brought him 
a new meerschaum pipe with an amber 
mouth-piece from out the sea, “For,” they 
said, “he has smoked that old clay one so 
long that he ought to have a new pipe.” 

The forest fairies placed under the tree a 
wonderful, new magic sleigh, which was much 
larger than his old one. “He has to carry 
62 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
so much nowadays,” they said. The moun- 
tain dwarfs had made for him some new, 
metal sleigh-bells which jingled out the mer- 
riest Christmas music. 

Suddenly they heard the old bells tinkling 
on Santa’s old sleigh and they all rushed 
back to the house to welcome him home. 
“What are you doing out here, Mother?” 
asked Santa Claus, “and all the brownies, 
elves, fairies, nymphs and mountain dwarfs 
out here with you? Why, don’t you know 
this is the time for rest, before we all go to 
work for another year?” 

“No, not to-night, Father Santa Claus. 
We are so happy we will dance until morning. 
Come with us to the Christmas-tree forest,’’ 
and with all the fairy helpers pushing and 
pulling him, and Mother Santa Claus 
holding him tightly by the hand, Santa 
63 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
Claus was brought out to his own Christ- 
mas tree. 

“Merry Christmas! Surprise! Surprise! 
Merry Christmas!” shouted all the fairies, 
and poor Santa Claus was certainly so sur- 
prised that he did not know what to say 
nor which way to turn. “A Christmas tree! 
And for me!” gasped Santa Claus in his 
bewilderment. 

“Yes, yes, for you, for you!” they all 
shouted. “You are always making other 
people have a merry Christmas, and now we 
want you to have a merry Christmas. It is 
your very own Christmas tree, Father Santa 
Claus.” And then they brought out his 
presents and gave them to him. 

When they had dressed him in his new 
suit, his eyes twinkled with pleasure as he 
said, “Why, I don’t know myself now; my 
64 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
old clothes were quite shabby and were tar- 
nished with ashes and soot, and Dancer and 
Prancer and Dunder and Blitzen and all the 
reindeer will hardly know what to make of 
this beautiful new magic sleigh. And just 
listen to the merry music of our new sleigh- 
bells! How good this warm fur robe will 
feel over me! Sometimes it is pretty cold 
and my old one is getting thin and worn. 
A new pipe! Oh, that is fine! My old one 
is just a stump of a pipe which I had to hold 
tightly between my teeth, and now, with 
this new one, the smoke will encircle my head 
like a wreath. How good you are to me!” 
said Father Santa Claus, ‘‘and how did you 
ever plan it?” 

‘‘Oh, good Mother Santa Claus helped 
us; without her help we could not have had 
any Christmas tree surprise party at all.” 
65 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
“Yes,” said Father Santa Claus, “it 
always takes the good Mother to plan and 
make a real Christmas party.” 

Then the fairy helpers surprised Mother 
Santa Claus by bringing out a new dress 
which they had made for her, with a soft, 
lacy collar and a white cap, and the moun- 
tain dwarfs gave her a pair of gold-rimmed 
spectacles to help her as she did her sewing, 
and a new, gold pin set with corals was 
brought to her by the sea nymphs. 

And then Father and Mother Santa Claus, 
dressed in their new Christmas clothes, 
stood under the sparkling tree trimmed by 
the frost fairies. Overhead the rainbow 
fairies came out and flashed their bright 
lights high in the northern sky, while all the 
Christmas fairy helpers, the brownies, elves, 
fairies, mountain dwarfs and nymphs, 
66 


A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR SANTA CLAUS 
danced around and around them in a fairy 
ring, calling gaily: 

“Merry Christmas, Father Santa Claus! 

Merry Christmas, Mother Santa Claus! 
Merry, Merry Christmas to all the World!” 


6 7 




































































. 





































































































































































I 


THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 

NCE upon a time there lived in 
Myra a good man named Nicho- 
las. When he was a young man 
his father and mother died of 
the plague, and he was left the sole heir of 
all their vast estate; but he looked upon all 
this money as belonging to God and felt 
that he, himself, was merely the steward 
of God’s mercies. So he went about every- 
where doing good and sharing his riches 
with all those who were in need. 

Now there lived in that country a certain 
nobleman who had three beautiful daugh- 
7i 




CHRISTMAS STORIES 
ters. He had been very rich, but he lost all 
his property and became so poor that he 
did not know what to do to provide for his 
family. His daughters were anxious to be 
married, but their father had no money to 
give them dowries and, in that country, no 
maiden could marry unless she had her mar- 
riage portion, or dowry. They were so very 
poor that they could scarcely get any food 
to eat. Their clothes were so worn and 
ragged that they would not go out of the 
house and their father was overcome with 
shame and sorrow. 

When the good Nicholas heard of their 
troubles he longed to help them. He knew 
that the father was proud and that it would 
be hard to give him money; so he thought 
that it would be best to surprise them with 
a gift. Then Nicholas took some gold and, 


72 


THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 
tying it in a long silken purse, went at once 
to the home of the poor nobleman. It was 
night and the beautiful maidens were fast 
asleep while the brokenhearted father, too 
wretched to go to bed, sat by the fireside 
watching and praying. 

Nicholas stood outside, wondering how 
he could bestow his gift without being seen 
when suddenly the moon came from be- 
hind the clouds and he saw that a window 
in the house was open. Creeping softly to 
the open window, he threw the purse right 
into the room where it fell at the feet of the 
nobleman. The father picked up the purse 
and was very much surprised to find it full 
of gold pieces. 

Awakening his daughters the father said: 
“See this purse which came through the 
window and fell at my feet. It is indeed a 
73 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
gift from Heaven. God has remembered us 
in our time of need.” 

After they had rejoiced together, they 
agreed to give most of the gold to the eldest 
daughter, so that she would have her dowry 
and could wed the young man she loved. 

Not long after that, Nicholas filled 
another silken purse with gold and again he 
went by night so that no one should see 
him, and he threw this purse also through 
the open window. Then when the father 
saw this golden gift he again gave thanks. 
The money he gave to the second daughter 
who, like her sister, at once married the man 
of her choice. 

Meanwhile the father was very curious to 
find out who was so kind to them, for he 
wished to thank the person who had come 
in the night to help them with these golden 


74 


THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 

gifts. So he watched and waited night after 
night, and after a time the good Nicholas 
came with another silken purse filled with 
gold pieces for the youngest daughter. 

He was just about to throw it into the 
room when the nobleman rushed from the 
house and, seizing him by his long robe, 
knelt before him, saying: “O good Nicholas, 
servant of God, why seek to hide thyself?” 
And he kissed his hands and feet and tried 
to thank him. 

But Nicholas answered: “Do not thank 
me, my good man, but thank the Heavenly 
Father who has sent me to you in answer 
to your prayers. I am but His messenger 
to help those who trust in Him. Tell no 
man of these gifts of gold, nor who brought 
them to you in the night, for my deeds are 
done in His name.” 


75 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 

Thus the youngest daughter of the noble- 
man was married and she and her father and 
sisters all lived happily the rest of their 
lives. 

The good Nicholas went about from place 
to place, and wherever he went he did deeds 
of kindness, so that all the people loved him. 

One time he took a long journey to the 
Holy Land, and when he was upon the sea 
there came a terrible storm; so that the ship 
was tossed about and almost wrecked, and 
all the sailors gave up hope. 

But the good Nicholas said: “Fear not, 
our Heavenly Father will bring us safely 
into harbor.’’ Then he knelt and prayed 
to God and the storm ceased and the boat 
was brought safely to the land. Where- 
upon the sailors fell at the feet of Nicholas 
and thanked him. 


76 


THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 

He answered them humbly: “Thank your 
Father who is in Heaven, for He is the ruler 
of us all. He it is who rules the earth and 
the sky and the sea, and who, in His good 
mercy, spared our lives that we may serve 
Him.” 

When Nicholas returned from Palestine 
he went to the city of Myra, where he was 
appointed a bishop. After that he preached 
God’s Word and went about doing good all 
of his life. When he died the people said: 
“We will not call him Bishop Nicholas, but 
we will call him Saint Nicholas, for if ever 
there was a saint upon earth it was our good 
Nicholas.” And so to this day he is called 
“Good Saint Nicholas.” 

And now in many countries, they tell the 
story of the good Saint Nicholas, and how 
he goes about the earth at Christmas-time 


77 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
bringing gifts of love to all who deserve them, 
and because he had put his gifts of gold 
in the long silken purses, our children to-day 
hang up their long stockings to hold his 
gifts; and when the children are very good 
he fills their stockings with sweetmeats, 
toys and trinkets, but if they have been 
naughty, they will find a bunch of switches, 
showing that they deserve to be 
punished. 

We all know that on Christmas Eve Saint 
Nicholas will come in the night, for he never 
likes to be seen; and we know that he will 
always live, — for is he not the spirit of love? 
and love can never die. 

So, every Christmas, let us give our gifts 
as he did those silken purses so long ago 
— without anyone knowing about it — and 
let our gifts be a surprise. Then we, too, 
78 


THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS 
can have the spirit of love and join in this 
celebration of Christmas with good Saint 
Nicholas. 


79 






































































. 














































THE GIFT OF LOVE 



T was a cold night for that part 
of the world, and the shepherds 
who were out watching their 
flocks upon the hillside drew 


their heavy cloaks about them. They had 
built a camp-fire to give them warmth and 
as they sat in a group about the bright 
blaze they told stories to each other. 

“You speak of the coming of the King, 
Grandsire,” said a young shepherd-boy eager- 
ly as he leaned toward an old man who was 
talking, “tell us more about the King.” 

“Yes, boy,” answered the old man, “I 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
will tell you the tale as my mother told it 
to me.” 

“Long, long ago, there was a shepherd- 
boy named David who wandered on these 
very hills near Bethlehem, keeping watch 
over his father’s sheep. David heard the 
story of the promised king who was to be 
sent from God to rule over all of his people, 
and David was so happy that he played upon 
his harp, and as he led the sheep through 
the green pastures and beside the still waters, 
he sang of God as the Heavenly Shepherd. 

“When David grew up to be a man he 
became a king and wore royal robes and a 
golden crown upon his head and he ruled 
over all the people. After David, came King 
Solomon, and no king could rival the 
grandeur of his palace and court. Since 
then many kings have ruled over us, but the 
84 


THE GIFT OF LOVE 

promised King has not come upon the earth, 
and the songs of David have not yet been 
fulfilled.” 

“Oh, how I wish that I might see the 
King!” said the boy earnestly. 

“You are young, boy, and — who knows? 
maybe you will live to see the time when 
these prophecies come true. But I am old 
and weary with waiting and working and 
I may never live to see the promised King. 
Yet I know that the word of God will come 
true and that He will send His only beloved 
son to rule the earth.” 

As the wind whistled over the hillside, 
the sheep huddled more closely together. 

“Our little lambs will suffer with the cold,” 
said the shepherd-boy. 

“No,” answered his father, “look at the 
way the mother-sheep lie closely about them, 
85 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
protecting the lambs with their warm bodies. 
No, the old sheep may feel the chill wind 
but they will not let their babies suffer.” 

“Just look at my little baby lamb,” said 
the boy. “See it is curled up snugly by 
its mother. Oh! I do hope that no harm 
will come to it, for it is the tiniest lamb of 
the flock and I love it. Do you know, 
Father, I call it ‘Snow-white’ for it is like 
the white snow which we sometimes see on 
the far-distant mountain-peaks.” 

“Come, boy,” said the father, “you have 
rested all day; so you watch the flock and 
the fire for a time and I will lie down here by 
Grandsire and take a nap.” 

The boy lay upon the ground looking at 
the camp-fire smoke curling up toward the 
sky. Then he looked at the sleeping shep- 
herds stretched out upon the ground, and 
86 


THE GIFT OF LOVE 

as his eyes rested upon the old man, he 
remembered the story and said softly: “How 
I should like to see that King!” 

The cold wind seemed to die down and 
the clouds went across the sky like a flock 
of scurrying sheep, leaving the stars twink- 
ling brightly in the dark-blue vault of the 
heavens. 

“How beautiful it is, and how still!” he 
said. 

He looked again at the group of sleeping 
shepherds, and then he looked at the sleeping 
sheep. As he watched, he saw his little 
lamb stir uneasily. 

“Poor little baby, poor little Snow-white, 
I believe that it is lonely — I will hold it 
under my warm coat and protect it while 
the mother-sheep sleeps.” And so the boy 
lifted the baby lamb in his strong arms, and, 
87 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 


opening his coat, he held it closely in his 
bosom, while the mother-sheep slept peace- 
fully by his side. The boy forgot to watch 
the fire and it soon flickered and went out. 

He felt a strange chill over all the land, 
and it was so still — so very still that he 
wished the men would awaken, or that one 
of the sheep would bleat, for he felt lonely 
and afraid and he knew not why. 

Suddenly he saw a bright light flashing 
through the heavens. Was he asleep or 
dreaming? He sat up and rubbed his eyes. 
No, the light was coming nearer and nearer, 
down, down toward the earth. Then he 
saw that the sheep were stirring uneasily 
and he heard them bleating, for they were 
frightened from their sleep. The shepherds, 
too, were awakening. 

“What is the meaning of this strange 
light?” said one. 


88 


THE GIFT OF LOVE 


“Has a star fallen from the sky?’’ asked 
another. 

“See this golden cloud of glory resting 
over us. It is so dazzling bright that I 
dare not look upon it.’’ 

The shepherds seized their staffs and some 
of them covered their faces with their cloaks, 
for they were very frightened. The old man 
went down upon his knees and looked up 
reverently while the boy stood motionless 
gazing spellbound at the radiant vision, for, 
as they watched they saw in this cloud of 
golden glory, a beautiful angel who came 
down, down to the earth and stood upon the 
hillside among them. When they saw this 
messenger from God the shepherds trembled 
with fear, and the angel said: 

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good 
tidings of great joy which shall be to all 
people. For unto you is born this day, in 
89 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
the city of David, a Savior which is Christ 
the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, 
ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling 
clothes lying in a manger.” 

And, as the angel ceased speaking, sud- 
denly the heavens opened and there was 
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly 
host who were singing and praising God, 
saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and 
on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

Then the bright light was gone and the 
startled shepherds looked up long and earn- 
estly toward the sky. 

“Truly, it was a message from God,” 
said the shepherd, as he bowed his white 
head. “God has sent us this angel to tell 
us that the promised King has come.” 

“But the angel said that the Babe was 
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in 


90 


THE GIFT OF LOVE 

a manger,” questioned the boy. ‘‘Is it not 
strange for a prince to come to such a lowly 
palace?” 

“Yes,” said the old man, “it seems 
strange, but we know that He is truly the 
gift of love from God — His only Son who 
has been promised to us for, lo, these many 
years. I thank God that my old eyes have 
been permitted to see this heavenly vision. 
Come, we must go in haste to find Him.” 

“What gift of love shall we carry to the 
King, Grandsire?” whispered the boy. 

“The most precious thing we own,” 
answered the old man, “that which we love 
the best.” 

“But we shepherds have no gold nor silver, 
nor sparkling gems fit for a king,” said one 
of the shepherds. “What, then, can we 
carry to this child?” 


91 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
“I know,” said the boy, as he looked 
lovingly down upon the little lamb which 
he was still holding in his strong young 
arms, “we can give this lamb — Snow-white; 
it is the purest and whitest little lamb from 
our flock. I love it and it is the best that 
we have to offer, and surely the good Father 
in Heaven knows that we are bringing our 
gift of love to the King.” 

“The boy is right,” said the old man. 
“This baby lamb — the purest of the flock — 
is truly our gift of love.” 

And so the shepherds went in haste down 
the hillside, the boy holding in his arms the 
baby lamb. Once it bleated softly, “Ma- 
Ma-a-a,” as though it called its mother, 
and the boy seemed to hear the mother- 
sheep on the hillside calling out, “Ba-ba-a-a,” 
as though she were calling her baby. 


92 


THE GIFT OF LOVE 

“Poor mother-sheep, she will be grieving 
for her little one,” said the boy to himself, 
"but if she could only understand she would 
be glad to give her lamb to the King.” 

At last they reached the little town of 
Bethlehem, and they came to a low stable 
built upon the hillside, and there they found 
their King — a tiny babe wrapped in swad- 
dling clothes, as the angel had said, and 
lying in a manger. 

They saw the cattle standing near and 
Joseph watching over the Holy Mother 
Mary and the Heavenly Child. 

This was no palace home; these were no 
royal robes of state, but the shepherds knew 
that the words of the angel were true and 
that this Babe was their promised king. 
The heavenly light was streaming from the 
face of the Holy Child and the shepherds 


93 


CHRISTMAS STORIES 
covered their faces, for they could not look 
upon its radiance. Then they fell upon their 
knees and worshipped the Child, and 
thanked God that the gift of love had been 
given to all the waiting world. 

The boy looked on with wondering eyes, 
and then he held out the little lamb, and 
the Babe smiled into the eyes of the boy 
and stretched out His tiny hands as though 
He would take the lamb. Then the boy 
sank slowly down upon his knees by the 
Babe and placed at His feet the tiniest lamb 
from the flock — a gift of love for the Christ- 
Child. 
















































































































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